Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-15

courts must be restored. 1t has not been
forgotten that political diekering over the
contract for building the Central Asylum
cost the State $40, 900, and that political
shutting equally a. bad over the printing
Of the Riddleberger bonds cost the State
damages to the Kendall Bank Note Com
pany amounting to $50, 600. Thus was the
State made to lose $1S2, 600 through the
lawless practices and reckless mismanage-
ment of the Mahoneites. Is it surprising
that the honesty and intelligence of tins
State should refuse to make another hope
less fight whose only result would DO 70
placc the KEYS of the treasury In the hands
Of srSh unfaithfnl servants?
In he face fthese facts the representa-
tiy. Of the bondholders refuse . PROPOSE
ton 10 nav them sos. $50 interest every
wear on a capital of S24, 277, 200, and de-
mand that they shall be paid $934, $50. 80
every year en- q capital Of So, 49,, 455. 1t
is impossible for the State 70 agree to this
demand without increasing taxes or Grip
pling the public schools and cutting of the
pensions from disabled soldiers. In the
impoverished condition Of the large agri-
cultural population an increase in taxation
would be cruelty. In the public schools,
on the other hand, there are enrolled now
only 81 per cent. of the children in the
State, and in many counties the school
term is limited, by the lack Of money for
their support, TO three or four months q
year. But, says the critic, who stands afar
of looking through his glass dimly, close
your schools till you pay your debt or
increase your taxes, even though il take
the blanket from your bed. Many
would agree to do this to save the State
from the blind attacks Of those who igno-
rantly SANDER her. But when il required,
at most, not more than about thirty seven
thousand whites in 1881, by joining with
the eolored vote, to defeat for the second
time the Democratic party, with nearly
one hundred thousand whites IN Its ranks,
in its effort to secure settlement paying
an annual interest Of between nine and ten
hundred thousand dollars, how is 1t pos
sible, in the light Of all the facts we have
set forth, to mass together a majority IN
favor Of paying nearly the same amount,
when the attempt to pay ii involves An IN
crease in taxes or q cutting down OF the
appropriation TO the public. schools and the
disabled soldiers? A large majority OF the
whites of Virginia--the intelligence and
thrift OF this State-have shown by their
sacrifices how willing and how eager they
have been to pay the debt. But they have
proved by the seyerest tests that they are
powerless. They owe their creditors, 1T is
true, but do not their creditors owe them
much also?
Though Virginia has been over generous
to MS in appropriating us $4,000, 600 OF
her debt without consulting US, we want
to see the Old Dominion have fair play in
the trouble she is in. From the facts
cited above it will he seen the Democratic
party Of the State has made noble efforts
to stem the current, but has twice gone
down in the struggle. They deserve praise
for the efforts made, though unsuccessful
they were. While the pressof the country,
and especially the Republican press, Is
disposed to criticise, the blame should fall
upon those who have handicapped the
yirginian Democracy in its efforts to deal
as Justly as possible with the States cred
itors.